take after

verb

took after; taken after; taking after; takes after

transitive verb

: to resemble (someone) in features, build, character, or disposition
a daughter who takes after her mother
"That's Tulliver's son," said the publican to a grocer standing on the adjacent door-step. "Ah!" said the grocer, "I thought I knew his features. He takes after his mother's family."George Eliot
"His father was lazy but his mother hasn't a lazy bone in her body, and Peter takes after her."Lucy Maud Montgomery

Examples of take after in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Neville Arena For years, college basketball arenas were taking after their football counterparts, building bigger, taller, and grander. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025 Schumer had been tight-lipped about the position his caucus will take after Senate Democrats spent a couple of hours sparring over strategy Tuesday before the House voted to pass the measure. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025 While the sports executive has kept details of his relationships and kids out of the spotlight, one of his children has taken after him on the basketball court. Jessica Sager, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025 Keeping yourself safe The first step someone should take after being scammed is contact their bank immediately. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take after

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take after was in 1627

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Cite this Entry

“Take after.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20after. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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